Heathrow (2)

Tony Devenish: What is TfL’s latest estimate for the total cost of the additional public transport infrastructure that would be required if Heathrow Airport were to be allowed to expand?

The Mayor: I remain greatly concerned by the unwillingness to date of Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) to accept the need for any new public transport infrastructure to enable expansion.
Analysis by TfL found that both Western Rail Access and an effective Southern Rail Access would be required alongside bus and cycle priority infrastructure on key corridors serving Heathrow. Without that scale of intervention, it will be impossible to secure sufficient shift by passengers and staff to sustainable modes, resulting in worsening road congestion and air pollution across a wide area, undermining London’s ability to meet legal limits for air quality.
TfL has not undertaken any recent work to update its cost estimates for these schemes. It is HAL’s responsibility to set out the schemes that would be required to enable it to meet its mode share targets, its aspiration for no increase in highway traffic and its legal obligations on air quality – based on credible modelling – together with how they will be funded and delivered.
It should also be noted that HAL is relying heavily on the delivery of the Piccadilly Line Upgrade – which is not specifically related to expansion but will help improve access to the airport. As things stand, while TfL has ordered the new trains it has not been able to order the new signalling. In effect, TfL will not be able to deliver the full benefits of the Upgrade unless additional funding is secured. Without this, any capacity gain or improvement in journey time or reliability will be curtailed, affecting locations along the length of the line, including an expanded Heathrow.